By Eric Powell
indy500.com
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Video | Photos | Audio | Transcript | Andretti's Back At Indy
The faces of three generations of the Andretti family beamed Dec. 20 at the Andretti Green Racing headquarters in Indianapolis, and it wasn't just because Christmas was only five days away.
Actually, Christmas came early for Marco Andretti, the 18-year-old son of open-wheel racing legend Michael Andretti. Andretti Green Racing, the team Michael co-owns, announced that Marco will compete in the full 2006 IRL IndyCar® Series schedule, including the 90th Indianapolis 500.
Marco will drive the No. 26 ArcaEx Dallara/Honda/Firestone alongside returning AGR teammates Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta.
Michael Andretti also announced that his involvement in the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race will be more than just team owner and mentor for AGR. He will exit retirement - his last race was the 2003 Indianapolis 500 - to attempt to qualify for his 15th career start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the No. 1 Jim Beam/Vonage Dallara/Honda/Firestone.
While the announcements were made, a proud grandfather by the name of Mario Andretti - the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner, 1978 Formula One World Champion, father of Michael and grandfather of Marco - looked on.
The emotion and excitement shared among grandfather, father and son was palpable. After all, the 2006 Indianapolis 500 will not only mark the first time that a father/son duo has competed in the race since Mario and Michael last raced together in 1994, but with Marco's arrival, it marks the start of "Chapter 3" in the Andretti family racing legacy at Indianapolis.
"For me, obviously I'm a dad, and to have him (Marco) out there in the biggest open-wheel racing league and to be out there with him is going to be very special," Michael Andretti said. "For the personal records of (when) I was there with my father, and now I'm here with my son, that was my initial (feeling of), 'Wow, this is cool,' but now that's all sort of to the side a little bit. My competitive juices have kicked in, and I've been training so hard and I'm so pumped. We're putting together a winning effort here."
Marco realizes the hard work that is ahead of him in his rookie IndyCar Series season. But it's a safe bet that his determination to excel in 2006 is equaled by his appreciation for what he and his father will experience from Indianapolis 500 Opening Day on Sunday, May 7, through Race Day on May 28.
"My dad's career has meant a lot to me," Marco Andretti said. "I've never seen such a focused individual as him. As soon as there was a (chance) of him coming back, he's been on it, eating right and working out. We've been training together. We're pushing one another as hard as we can, and I guess that's what teammates are for.
"I look at this as my life. To me, I can't be more excited for my team or my family."
The Andretti family is one of the most decorated in racing history: Mario has won four open-wheel national championships and earned a Daytona 500 victory in addition to his Indy and Formula One conquests. He was named "Driver of the Century" by the Associated Press and Racer Magazine at the end of the 20th century. Michael won the 1991 CART series championship and earned 42 career open-wheel victories.
The pressure just to be an Andretti can be immense for Marco, but 40 years removed from his first start at the Indianapolis 500, Mario Andretti said his grandson is handling the expectations from outside the family "perfectly."
"Marco has that quiet confidence, he does his thing," Mario Andretti said. "Yeah, he has the usual pressures, but he knows what he's doing (and) what he wants. He has the passion for it, and he's just concerned about doing his thing.
"That's what we tell him, 'Satisfy yourself and don't do anything more than you need to. As fast as you are is good enough for us.'"
As for Michael's return to the cockpit in 2006, Mario said he will take the inherent danger of racing in stride, but more than anything else, he's excited about Michael's chances.
"I was happy to see him retire from the safety aspect, but I always thought he still had so much to give as a driver, and I think he's seeing that in himself," Mario said. "I have no concern about Michael being able to pick up where he left off. As many miles as he's driven at Indy, and the cars, as well as they're prepared, he'll find his zone immediately. And he'll be an incredible help for Marco, too."
The presence of three generations of ultra-competitive Andretti's in one place meant that the question of the ultimate in family participation had to be asked: Any chance that Mario Andretti could get the racing bug and make a return to Indy?
"I'm on the sidelines, just sort of the spare," he said. "No, not really."
Interesting that, while a return is unlikely, Mario did not say "no."
"I'll never say, 'no,'" he said, with a grin.
The last time Mario Andretti drove a car at Indianapolis was during a private test in 2003, in one of Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven-sponsored cars. At the end of the day, he was involved in a spectacular crash that saw his car flip end-over-end after hitting a large piece of debris left after an accident that took place right in front of him. Fortunately, the car landed on its wheels and Andretti was unhurt.
In pondering the idea that his father might be tempted to make a return in 2006, creating a historic three-generation participation in the Indianapolis 500, Michael couldn't help but give his father a little grief.
"He blew it, he broke one of my cars already," Michael said, laughing. "He had his chance."
What may happen if, for instance, there is a restart with 10 laps to go in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 and the order finds Marco Andretti in first and Michael in second? Michael didn't hesitate with an answer.
"It's going to be a good race, a really good race," he said. "I'm going to try to use my experience to get by him. He'll have a lot more chances to win than me. If I can do it, I'm going to do it, and I hope that if he's running second and I'm first, that he's going for the win. That's what it's about. I don't want anything given to me, and I don't think he wants anything given to him."
***
Indy 500 tickets on sale: Tickets are on sale for the 2006 Indianapolis 500, the historic 90th running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
All fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time.
Ticket prices start at just $20.
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